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Four new games for armchair generals
CNN Tech ^ | August 15, 2011 | Scott Steinberg

Posted on 08/22/2011 7:56:16 AM PDT by 1rudeboy

For gamers, the urge to conquer and pillage dates back to time immemorial. Tabletop amusements like chess and its numerous variants have enthralled players for centuries.

Given their often-complex rules and cluttered pieces, military simulations were among home computing's earliest killer apps, giving rise to popular publishers such as SSI and MicroProse.

But despite a rapid retail decline in the late '90s that forced many titles out of stores and into the hands of niche online publishers like Matrix Games and HPS Simulations, "wargames" are still going strong today.

Now disguised under catchall categories like "strategy" and "simulation," you can find them on every platform -- from PC to iPad to Xbox 360 -- clothed in an equally diverse array of styles, from contemporary to futuristic.

Here are four virtual spins on classic combat that armchair generals of all ages will appreciate, whether they're looking to build an empire after a trying workday or crush Constantinople under their iron heel during a quick coffee break.

(Excerpt) Read more at articles.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Hobbies; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: wargames
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To: Little Ray

Me too. My cousins got me hooked on board wargames in 1979, and I started playing historical miniatures in ‘89.

When I was single, I used to almost live at the Tin Soldier in Dayton...

It was a great hobby shop. RIP


41 posted on 08/22/2011 11:21:22 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps ("Barack Obama" is Swahili for "Jimmy Carter".)
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To: Braak
When I was 9 or 10 years old....I got the game Stratego for a present.

I still have the game...and it's a great game too!!

42 posted on 08/22/2011 11:21:49 AM PDT by Osage Orange (HE HATE ME)
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To: ClearCase_guy

The portion of the board you pictured was very reminiscent of AH’s Devils Den, but different enough that I knew it wasn’t.


43 posted on 08/22/2011 12:06:02 PM PDT by dmz
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To: GreenLanternCorps
Hey, how about a quick game of "Fire in the East"? ;)

I couldn't find a picture of it, but a couple years ago some people were playing the entire Europa series at a convention. It stretched all the way from Fire in the East to For Whom the Bell Tolls. I was impressed that they could set it all up and play a couple of turns during the four days.

44 posted on 08/22/2011 12:13:36 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (The Repubs and Dems are arguing whether to pour 9 or 10 buckets of gasoline on a burning house.)
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To: Jeff Head

Cool. I had Harpoon a couple of computer generations ago, didn’t know they’ finally updated it. Will have to look that up.

I liked to go nuclear, round 1, wave 1.


45 posted on 08/22/2011 1:11:48 PM PDT by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: KarlInOhio

I would haved loved to seen the map set up. I was looking for a whole Europa map photo to post but all I could find was the convention pic I posted.


46 posted on 08/22/2011 2:04:55 PM PDT by GreenLanternCorps ("Barack Obama" is Swahili for "Jimmy Carter".)
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To: Jeff Head

Do you know if they make Harpoon for Mac?


47 posted on 08/22/2011 2:13:58 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (HEY UNION MEMBER: INVEST IN YOUR OWN DAMN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CHANGE!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

“Who needs computers? “ see post with picture of game board

wow that brings back memories. we played this in germany in 1977. when i pcs’d home through maryland after 3.5 years with 3AD i hit gettysburg the second day home after eating crab cakes.

looks like sickles is too far forward AGAIN.


48 posted on 08/22/2011 2:20:39 PM PDT by bravo whiskey (If the little things really bother you, maybe it's because the big things are going well.)
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To: bravo whiskey

forgot to name the game Terrible Swidt Sword. loved playing the first day. my wife took a picture of me standing in willoughby run where the first shots were exchanged.

WACHT AM RHEIN was another monster game we played in germany.
COBRA was a great evening multi-player beer and pretzel game.
PANZERBLITZ was always a hoot and i used FIREFIGHT to train my mortar FOs and FDC.
while in germany i got interested in the civil war by playing spi magazine game on the whole war before WAR BETWEEN THE STATES came out.
i like HARPOON, SPWAW 8.whatever, WitP/AE, TOAW3 and am dabbling right now with WORLD OF TANKS.
thinking of getting BATTLE OF BRITAIN/OVER THE REICH from matrix games.


49 posted on 08/22/2011 2:30:45 PM PDT by bravo whiskey (If the little things really bother you, maybe it's because the big things are going well.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
This was my game of choice...


50 posted on 08/22/2011 2:36:39 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: tarotsailor; GonzoGOP
I loved AH's Jutland. I "graduated" to Fletcher Pratt in high school, playing it with about 25 guys.

I'm not entirely sure Jutland could be played on a wall in its later stage, but the initial search before combat certainly can.

51 posted on 08/22/2011 6:09:09 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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oops, we played with smaller scale ships . . . maybe 1:250?


52 posted on 08/22/2011 6:12:00 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: RepRivFarm

53 posted on 08/22/2011 6:14:33 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: JusPasenThru

I believe the ult. edition has a Mac version...but check it out, I am not sure.


54 posted on 08/22/2011 6:16:06 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Liberty is not free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Ueriah
I’m also enjoying the Total War series.

Been playing Medieval Total War II Kingdoms for a while now. Actually do not play the vanilla game. Play the following mods to the vanilla game. Stainless Steel, Broken Crescent, The Last Kingdom and also Third Age Total War. Some of the mod files themselves are over a gigabyte in size. The Last Kingdom mod was just released. Very interesting. There are 4 Saxon clans, the Scots, two Irish Clans, the Welsh, 3 Viking Clans, the Normans (just arrived in France) and a couple of Frankish clans. Very interesting to learn how modern England was forged in primarily hand to hand combat.

55 posted on 08/22/2011 6:40:57 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: bravo whiskey

scanning this thread i see names like TSR and Avalon Hill, and gosh, I think I know why I love you people.


56 posted on 08/23/2011 10:40:52 AM PDT by Ueriah
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To: FreedomPoster
I have several A-H and early SPI games stuffed away in my closet. I really should get into online play of that stuff.

Always favoured Twilight 2000, myself. Alas, events overtook it.


57 posted on 08/27/2011 2:22:19 PM PDT by archy (I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Who needs computers?

Virtually all of the events portrayed in these games were undertaken begfore the advent of the computer age, and most were also *gamed* in command and staff school kriegspielen and TEWTS at the senior level, and om sand tables, CPXs and FTXs by junior, fieldgrade and troop command level officers and their troops.

Now computers make it possible for an individual to do the same, operating within authentic or realisticly modified OrBats and logistical realities, with variables such as weather added in. In that, computers make it pretty neat, and I look forward to advances in that application.

58 posted on 10/12/2011 9:36:53 AM PDT by archy (I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!)
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